Kongsberg's Motion Gyro Compasses Offer Safeguard Against GNSS Disruption

At a time when GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) reception face growing threats from jamming and spoofing, having a navigation system that doesn’t solely rely on satellite signals has become vital for critical maritime operations. With real-world disruptions increasingly affecting shipping and aviation safety, Kongsberg Discovery’s MGCs (Motion Gyro Compasses) deliver reliability, accuracy and resilience in contested environments.

Jamming disrupts GNSS signals, limiting access to satellite-based positioning. This can leave vessels without accurate speed or location data, posing serious operational and safety risks—especially in busy shipping lanes, poor visibility conditions or unfamiliar waters.

Spoofing, on the other hand, is more insidious. By mimicking legitimate GNSS signals, attackers can trick navigation systems into misreporting the vessel’s position. Without a trusted back-up system, a ship could be unknowingly diverted off-course, putting it at risk of grounding, collision or entering restricted waters.

Although traditional gyrocompasses are immune to these signal-based attacks by design, many modern navigation systems incorporate GNSS data to enhance positioning accuracy.

The rising number of GNSS spoofing and jamming incidents has highlighted the critical need for navigation systems that can function without satellite input. For maritime operators, having an autonomous and reliable source of heading and positioning data